Intriguing traditionalmelodies and lyrics and selfpenned compositions. All in the traditionof the Antandroy, the southern inhabitants of Madagascar. Sung by thethree sisters Chantal (Talike), Adelaïde (Delake) and VictoireMadeleine (Vicky) Gellé, who accompany themselves on langoro (handdrum)and katsa (percussion).

Everybody sings in Madagaskar, on every occasion. When getting up inthe morning, during work, with friends in the evening. Songs to shareone's joy, to express sorrow, to continue one's work, to protestagainst injustice to yourself, to declare one's love or friendship.Singing is indissolubly connected to daily life.
The Gellé sisters come from a very musical family from the South ofMadagascar. Their father is the accordionist in the Ifotake village. Henever fails to turn up on official gatherings. Their brother Dadah deFort-Dauphin is a celebrity on the island -his music is presenteverywhere. As little girls the sisters sang in a choir thataccompanied the local griots (or sairy or mpibeko as they are called inMadagascar) during their ceremonies. They also won prizes at festivals,together with their mother, aunts, brothers and other sisters. Thenthey went their seperate ways.
By coincidence -or by the guiding hand of faith- they met again inEurope two years ago. Singing together again came naturally: songs fromtheir home country and new compositions in the traditional style. Theyrecorded some of these songs and sent the tape to the festival'Kleurrijk Talent' (colourful talent), a song contest for migrantartists. In 1998 they won the finals with their second concert ever! Asa result they were invited for festivals like Dranouter Folkfestival(Belgium), Dunya, Festival Mundial (both Netherlands) and -morerecently- to do a showcase on Popkomm in Cologne (Germany). The comingmonths the trio will be on tour in the Netherlands, Germany (includinga showcase on Womex), Austria, Switzerland and France.
Tihareameans wealth, not in the sense of money, but on a cultural andspiritual level. The group sings in the language of the Antandroy, theinhabitants of southern Madagascar. The best description for the musicis life's poetry. The songs are about homesickness and yearning, loveand luck, the injustice of polygamy, your destiny you cannot run awayfrom, about jealousy and the wealth of a life filled with music.
Early 2000 the sisters returned briefly to Madagascar to visit theirfamily. They sang, showed the videos of their performances, told abouttheir plans to record a cd. 'Unbelievable', an aunt cried, 'our girlsare becoming famous in Europe with their music!'
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